Stop motion for looms



Feb. 26, 1957 M. R. FLAMAND STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 24. 1954 IN VEN TOR. MAuralcz E. FLAMAND A T TORN E Y Fe. 26, 1957 M. R. FLAMAND STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS Filed June 24, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y INVENTOR. MAURICE R. FLAMAND A TTORNE Y 2,782,807 STOP MOTION son LooMs Maurice R. Flamand, Valley Falls, L, assigrior iti 5 Draper Corporation, Ho'pedale, Mass; a corporation of Maine Application June 24, 1954, Serial No. 438,931

9 Claims. c1. 139' 2'2'8) 10 This invention pertains to improvements in knock-off or stopping means for" looms, and more specifically, to such means as is adapted to stop the loom after more than one indication for stopping has been made. 7 It is a general object of the invention to devise means by which a loom may be so automatically contr'olled that upon indication of filling failure, for example, thelooni will stop, but not at the first such indication and only after a next succeeding or following indication. V

It is a more specific object of the invention to devise such means which shall be effective for letting bacli the fabric a predetermined amount npon the first indication of filling failure and then at the next succeeding. pick r if filling failure is not evident, will permit the loom. to continue running, but will, if that next succeeding. pick is faulty, stop the loom.

It is a further object of the inventio to devise means, by which the stopping of. the loom ma be .siectivel'y' accomplished at the first faulty pick if so desird,.and parts easily set or adjusted so as to stoponl'y' at a second or succeeding pick as above mentioned. I a H Other objects of the invention willbe'corne apparentfrom the following more detailed description In the weaving of fabrics, the better grades fmat ei'ialt are generally so woven and the loom in which they are f woven so controlled that at any pick or insertion-of filling: at which a fault in the filling thread occurs, theloomwill; be immediately stopped. If high quality material islieing made, the fabric must be hit back a predeter 'ned amount to compensate for the fabric take up action which tends to go on continuously even though grann pickoccurs. If a part pick is inserted, thatis generally withdrawn or picked out and the loom then; started after filling has been threaded or otherwise so introduced to; the inserting mechanism that the loom ,may b e xpe te to perform in its intended manner. various grades ofi material are woven, some of which are to-bensed such purposes that the actual quality of'theweaving,. thae 50 is, the occurrence of faults or blemishes therein, is not-so critical. Speed of production becomes more impoggnt while quality is relegated to a more or less secondary position. With fiy shuttle loomssuch materialsarewoven by transferring a new bobbin to the shuttle at each indi cation of filling failure- However, with looms in -whi h filling from a stationary supply is presented-toflnserting: means which takes it from the presenting;meansabettep mode of weaving as hereinafter describedis prefegregh; In such instances it is desired that loom be; not stopped at every faulty pick, but rather, stopped only on such occasions as filling is more or less permanentlypre: vented from being inserted so that a major ifault would be evident in the finished material; such-cases the operation of the loom is so controlled that-the stopping mechanism does not function actually to stop thell oom' at the first faulty pick, but at a succeeding pick for ample, thesecond pick, inwhich eventsuchiniea-ns are termed two-try mechanisms. In some instaiices it rnay; be desirable that the 100111 automatically. let b a'clc a slight; amount at each indicated faulty pick irrespect ve of Whether or not stopping is actually accomplished.

Stairs atent 2,782,807 Patented Feb; Zti, 1 957 ice 2 The tne'c'hanism hereinafter tobe described in detail and wh' -h comprises novel means forming a part of the" were toppin or knocking on means i adapted to tunenon froma moving. actuator type of stopping motion which travels in one athway if filling isr'esent as intended; but is cdnstrained to move in a: different pathway" whenever the filling sensing means indicates that filling is not present as intended. 7 These moving" aematers as is known to those skilled in the art, contact other mecns: ni's'ms which are interconnected to the loom lifio'c devicesand, as a rule; also aifect the fabric t ak up means so that the latter islet back or permitted t'o'ino in a reverse direction for a predetermined extent-,- f6! ex: ample, one pick more or less. R a According: to a preferred form which the inventtonniay take, the moving actuator adapted to contact a particul r impulse receiving. member if filling is not present as ititended actually engages first with a movable d'etnt or; member releasing device which upon releasing that said member may, if desired, move the parts far enough to cause let back, but will not move them far enough to knock off the loom or initiate the movement ofi th' step} ping mechanism which, of course, comprises a meansfor throwing 01f or disconnecting power and for app ing a brake or othermeans to bring. the mechanism to fest rapidly as is conveniently possible. If at the next ceeding. inserting movement, the filling: is picked upand is inser-ted as intended, the moving. actuator natu': l9" returns to its normal pathway at which no indication of filling failureispresent and the moving? memher is ife vided with a camming surface by means of whiclfit is returned to its initial or morenorrnal position and la't't':

in: that position. Then the loom continues to' run until" another filling failure may be indicated. However; if the next succeeding pick is'also faulty; the contact oftli' moving actuator will then be made with a part of the moving member and the movement of parts amplifidfto that extentnecessary for knocking on andstopping the loom;

The invention will be described in greater detail liy ref erence to the accompanying figures of drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of part of aloomshowing the application of the invention thereto.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section taken' froin the front of the loom showing some of the mechanism of Fig; 1.

Fig. 3- is a-detail view illustrating on a larger scale tli' moving actuator and-the parts conta'cted thereby.

Fig. 4 is aside view of part of the mechanism of Fina-3. Fig. 5 is a-detailview of certain operating'imeans' for the. moving actuator. p 1

Fig. 6 is; a perspective view showing themeans: con tasted: by the moving actuator.

.Figs. 7,. 8 and 9 are'views further showing". the of Fig. 6 in different positions, and

Fig. 1'0is a detail view showing the mechanism as see to stop the loom at each pick at which failiire' of filling wheel 22 periodically actuated by? a pawl 13 pivotedat 24' at one arm 25 of a two-arm lever-,the other arm; 26' of which isattached at 27 to a link'.28 whichis in--tl .im;

pivoted at 29 to an eccentric 30 carried on a driven shaft- 31 and which is' caused to rotate at a predetermined speed by'm'eans of gearing including the gear 32 driven from other elements in'the machine not e e sary or de.

scfiptionherel The" amplitude of movement'f or th pawl; 7.

23 is controlled by varying the'position of thepivo in the'slot at the end'of arm 26. The awns maiiitained in position against the teeth of the ratchet wheel except as it is controlled to be lifted therefrom by means of a cam plate 33, Fig. l, which engages beneath the pawl being moved by a member or lug 34 carried on a link 35, the purpose of which is presently to be described, and which is moved to varying degrees depending upon action of the stopping means itself. This plate 33 is pivoted at 36 to a fixed part of the loom, for example, the loomside 20, and is normally spring urged by means of the spring 37 connected to a short projecting arm 38 of the plate member and to any other fixed part of the loom mecha-: msm.

The ratchet wheel 22 is fixed to shaft 39 carried in suitable bearings in the loom frame and a hand wheel 40 also fixed to this shaft permits the take-up roll 21 to be manipulated by hand if so desired. The arms 25 and 26 projecting from a central hub 41 are freely swingable on the shaft 37 except as controlled by elements attached thereto as above described.

The loom is driven by a motor through clutch means as is the usual practice and a brake is preferably employed which is capable of stopping the loom rather quickly once the loom knock-off means has become effective. Theseparts arc conventional and need not be described in detailhere. The knock-off and manual control of the starting and stopping of the loom is preferably controlled through hand levers part of one of which is illustrated at 42 and which forms a part of a hub 43 fixed at one end of a knock-off shaft 44 borne in suitable bearings in the loom framework and having a depending arm 45 engageable by either of certain stop members or screws 46, 47 threaded into. opposed arms 48 and 49 on a swinging member which carries a pawl 50 engageable with theteeth of the, ratchet wheel 22 and which is primarily a stop pawl. This mechanism including the said arms 48, 49 and pawl 50 is pivoted at 51 to the loomside 20 and also carries as a part thereof a depending arm 52 to which is attached at its lowermost end the aforementioned link 35. This knock-off mechanism may be employed to start the loom by pulling the lever 42 in one direction, e. g., toward the front of the loom, and when moved in the otherdirection is effective in stopping the mechanism.

, At certain times the pawls 23 and 50 are raised to per mitihe fabric to let back, for example, at a mispick of some description so that the fabric will not present a thin place. The letback is controlled or limited to a definite amount'by means of a let-back pawl 53 carried at the end of a plunger 54 slideable in a bearing 55 formed or retained at the outer end of a swiveling shaft 56 fixed in the loomside, the said holder or hearing 55 being urged counterclockwise, Fig. 1, by means of a spring 57. The limit of movement of the pawl and plunger 54 is controlled by the position of the stop collar 58 and a spring 59 connected to a projecting part of the collar, for example, the locking set screw 60 and to another projection 61 on the bearing 55 normally urges the pawl in such direction to follow the general movement of the ratchet wheel teeth as in Fig. 1. 'Upon let-back at which time the ratchet wheel rotates clockwise, the amount of that let-back is actually controlled by the extent to which the pawl 53 may move. The setting may amount to something less than a pick or maybe controlled at a plurality of picks, however, with the mechanism as herein described it should be set to permit let-back of an amount equal to about a single pick.

The function of the parts so far described, or their counterparts, is evidenced and has been described fully in' U. S. Patent 2,663,328 so that further description is not necessary at this point.

Now referring to Figs. 1-5, a stop mechanism is carried by the lay 62. and, among other elements, comprises a moving actuator 63 which is formed as a forwardly directed projection from the arm 64 pivoted at 65 and which. is periodically swung ,to and fro as will presently be described. This arm 64 is swung to and fro as indi- 4 cated by the dot-and-dash line position of certain of the parts, for example, the laterally directed arm 66, Fig. 3, which is engaged by a follower or pin 67 projecting from a collar 68 in turn adjustably attached on the rod 69 which is moved to and fro under the influence of a cam such as illustrated in U. S. Patent 2,647,545, except for the fact that in this instance, the cam works downwardly on the rod rather than upwardly. The upper end of the rod is guided in a swiveling bearing 70 and as the same is moved downwardly, the moving actuator 63 is swung toward the outer end of the loom and since it has pivoted at 71 at the upper end of the arm, :a link 72 extending across the lay of the loom to atypical center fork motion, it moves the fork mechanism in a. direction such as to cause the tines of the fork to feel the presence or absence of filling thread at the proper time. If thread is present the tines are held in elevated position so that the center fork cam is not latched and so that under the influence of certain spring mechanism functioning on the rod 72, or other appropriate parts, the moving actuator is permitted to return to its position illustrated in Fig. 3 as the rod 69 moves upwardly. That return movement occurs in time so that the actuator will not contact any of the elements which might receive its impulse to initiate stopping of the loom as will hereinafter be described. If filling is not present as intended, the center fork mechanism of the loom is latched in more or less its extreme position as swung counterclockwise, Fig. 3, and in that position forward movement of the lay results in a contact being made between the actuator 63 and other elements. The general arrangement and functioning of a center fork motion to control a moving actuator is well known to those skilled in the art and no description other than that herein given and that available in the patent just above mentioned need be advanced in this description since "the center fork motion itself is not new.

In the normal situation, the center fork having caused the 'moving actuator to depart from its normal pathway, it contacts certain elements which cause knocking off of the loom and immediate stoppage thereof as governed by the clutch and brake means. If desired, and as is usually the case, the stopping is also accompanied by a definite letting'back of the fabric. However, in cases where permissible, it'is sometimes more practical if the loom is permitted to insert an imperfect pick or perhaps to fail toinsert any pick at all at a single cycle and to continue weaving rather than to stop at every indication of a filling fault. -In such instances it is desirable to employ what is herein called a two-try mechanism by means of which stopping may not be completed unless two consecutive faulty picks are experienced. In such event stopping occurs at the second pick and depending upon other conditions, let-back of the fabric may occur on the first pick at which stopping is not permitted to be completed if so desired.

'The mechanism herein devised for controlling the func tions just above mentioned includes a pivoted member 73 pivoted to rock with shaft 74 which is carried in bearings 75 and 76 forming parts of a bracket 77 attached to the loomside by a supporting shelf or bracket 78. This arm 73 is forked at its lower portion as at 79 and 80, these forked portions having stop screws 81 and 82 threaded therein and adapted to strike against lug 83 projecting from the bracket 77. A spring 84 coiled about the shaft 74 is attached at one end to a collar 85 fixed to the shaft and at its other end engages a part of the bracket 77 so that tension in the spring always tends to move the arm 73 to the position shown in Fig. 4. At the upper end of this arm 73 as shown more clearly in the perspective view, Fig. 6, and other detail views, the means for receiving the impulse of the moving actuator 63 includes a spring pressed plunge-r86 set in a drilled opening in the sleeve 87, this plunger being beveled at its outwardly projecting end andbeing cut away at one side to leave a substantial part of the end thereof flattened as at 88 so that the plunger maintained against being moved entirely from the sleeve 87 by a pin 89 driven downwardly through the material after assembly. A spring 90 is confined within the hollow part of the plunger and also within the opening in the sleeve and as illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, this spring tends to push the plunger out to the position of Fig. 6.

A detent generally indicated by numeral 91 is pivoted at 92 at the upper end of the arm 73 which is spread laterally as indicated in the various figures in order to separate the plunger and the pivot bolt, this detent having an arm 93, a flange 94 at its lower surface and an inclined cam portion 95. These parts of the detent all have a particular function as will be described presently. The detent is always being urged in an upward direction by the spring 96 which pushes a second plunger 97 having a rounded head portion 98 upwardly against the flange 94 as illustrated in the various figures. This plunger 97 is slideable in a somewhat vertically disposed bearing lug 99, Fig. 3, so that as illustrated in Fig. 6, the parts in their normal position are so disposed that if filling failure occurs the moving actuator 63, when the lay comes forward, engages against the end of the plunger 86 pushing it inwardly against the spring 9% until the detent 91 as influenced by spring 96 moves upwardly to pass by the front beveled surface of the plunger. The engagement of the part 63 is against the upper part of the plunger so that the detent may move as just described. Since the spring 96 is relatively stiff, it moves the detent to an uppermost position as limited by pin 100 just as soon as the moving actuator 63 is retracted out of the way.

While the forward movement of the parts as just above described is such that some movement is preferably imparted to the arm 73, enough movement is, not given it to affect the knock-off mechanism. A depending arm 101 is also fixed to the shaft 74 but at a position outwardly thereof as regards the loornside this arm being connected at the opposite end of link 35 before mentioned. Through the link 35 the movement imparted at the first pick failure encountered actually may move the stop pawl 50 from engagement with the ratchet wheel teeth and the lug 34 on the link may also affect the plate 33 so as to withdraw the feed pawl 23. That will permit let-back of the fabric as regulated by the particular adjustment of the let-back pawl 53 so that even though the loom picks up filling on the next succeeding pick and does not stop, a let-back of the fabric such as would cause better appearance in the average case of filling failure may be achieved.

In the event the next suceeding pick is not faulty the moving actuator 63 will not again strike against the plunger 86 or the detent 91 which will at that time be in front of the plunger, but will engage the cam surface 95 which is so disposed as to force the detent 91 downwardly until the plunger 86 may spring out to lock it in that downward position, Fig. 6. Then the loom continues to operate in a normal manner until a filling failure, or some other difficulty incidental to stopping occurs.

In the event there are two consecutive fillingfailures indicated so that the moving actuator 63 first engages the plunger 86 permitting the detent 91 to rise, the second such movement of the parts will engage against the detent itself which is thick enough to cause a greater movement of the arm 73 than resulted at the first filling failure. This greater movement not only lets back fabric but also swings the stop pawl assembly so that the abutment screw 46 strikes against the lower depending portion of arm 45 thereby to swing starter shaft 44 a sufiicient distance so that the loom is actually knocked off.

Upon remedying the fault and starting the loom again, the moving actuator when it traverses its normal pathway will again strike cam surface 95 and reset the detent greases 6 notdesired to permit any imperfect picks of filling to remain in the fabric, and thus the two-try mechanism is not advisably to be employed. When operation of that sort is desired, the detent 91 is merely swung into a reverse position as illustrated in Fig. 10. To accomplish that, the pivot 92 is quickly removed, the detent swung to its opposite position and the pivot returned intoproperly adjusted relationship and at that time, the spring 96 and the plunger 97 cooperate to maintain the end 102 of the detent in uppermost position at which time it will maintain the plunger 86 inwardly against the tension of spring and will also receive the impact of the actuator 63 and swing the parts that distance required for knocking off the loom whenever the filling fork indicates filling failure to cause the actuator to move in its alternate or active pathway.

The invention has been described and illustrated as applied to a loom of the type which is subject matter of the patents cited herein, but it is to be understood that it is applicable to all looms in which there is the possibility of the filling being picked up by the inserting means after a broken pick. In rapier type looms or those described in the patents of record herein, that is possible so long as the filling failure occurs within the fabric zone.

The invention is also adapted to use in all looms using.

a projectile type of inserting means so that each filling insertion is an independent function. So long as the filling is not broken between the supply and the filling presenting or shuttle loading means such looms may continue to run with a fabric defect being left in the cloth. Again, the two-try mechanism will stop the loom at the second consecutive faulty pick.

The use of a center fork as a filling sensing means is herein given by way of illustration, but it is by no means the only such device which may be employed. Filling sensing means eflective at or just beyond the edge of the cloth being woven are well known and the indication may as well be taken from one of those rather than from a center fork.

While one embodiment of the invention has been dis closed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a loom having a knock-off control by which the loom may be stopped, means for sensing a fault in the filling as inserted at each pick and means affected by said sensing means and interconnected for actuating sa'id knock-off means to stop the loom including a moving actuator and an impulse receiving meansand means forming a functional part of said actuator and receiving means and selectively positioned so that in one position contact between the moving actuator and impulse receiving means will be effective to stop the loom at the pick upon which the filling fault indication first occurred, and when in another position will be effective only upon continued indication of filling failure to stop the loom.

2. In a loom having a knock-off control by which the loom may be stopped, means for sensing a fault in the filling as inserted at each pick and means affected by said sensing means and interconnected for actuating said knock-off means to stop the loom including a moving actuator and an impulse receiving means and means forming a functional part of said actuator and receiving means and selectively positioned so that in one position contact between the moving actuator and impulse receiving means will be effective to stop the loom at the pick upon which the filling fault indication first occurred, and when in its other position will be effective to stop the loom at the second successive pick of a pair at which an indication is received.

3. In a loom having a knock-off control by which the loom may be stopped and a fabric take-up with which a let-back means is adapted to function, means for sensing a fault in the filling as inserted at each pick andmea-ns affected by said sensing means and interconnected for actuating said knock-off and let-back means to stop the loom and to let back fabric, said means including a mov ing actuator the pathway of which is selectively governed by said sensing means and an impulse receiving means, and means forming a functional part of said actuator and receiving means for transferring the movement of the former to the latter to let back fabric while selectively positioned upon the first indication of filling failure at which said means is ineffective to complete a stopping of the loom, for so altering the engaging relationship of the said means that upon the second consecutive indication of filling failure the loom will be stopped.

4. In a loom having a knock-off control, fabric takeup advancing means including periodically actuated means capable of being released for letting back fabric, a knockoff mechanism including a moving actuator having one path of movement when the filling thread is present as intended upon beat-up and a different pathway upon failure of normal filling insertion, a means out of the path of said actuator when moved in said one path but engageable thereby when the latter is moved in the different path at filling failure said means being connected to said take-up advancing means for affecting it and the knock-off control, and a moving member forming a part of said means engageable by said moving actuator for preventing knocking off of the loom at the first indication of filling failure while transmitting motion from the actuator to stop the loom at the second consecutive pick at which filling failure is indicated.

5. In a loom having' a knock-off control, fabric take-up advancing means including periodically actuated means capable of being released for letting back fabric, a knockoff mechanism including a moving actuator having one path of movement when the filling thread is present as intended upon beat-up and a different pathway upon failure of normal filling insertion, a means out of the path of said actuator when moved in said one path but engageable thereby when the latter is moved in the different path at filling failure said means being connected to said take-up advancing means for affecting it and the knockoff control, and a pivoted member forming a part of said means engageable by said moving actuator for preventing knocking off of the loom at the first indication of filling failure while causing the take-up means to let back fabric, said member further being effective at the second consecutive pick at which filling failure is indicated to stop the loom.

6. In a loom having a knock-off control, fabric take-up advancing means including periodically actuated means capable of being released for letting back fabric, a knockoff mechanism including a moving actuator having one path of movement when the filling thread is present as intended upon beat-up and a different pathway upon failure of normal filling insertion, a means out of the path of said actuator when moved in said one path but engageable thereby when the latter is moved in the different path at filling failure said means being connected to said take-up advancing means for affecting it and the knock-off control, a detent pivoted at the free end of said means engageable by said moving actuator, a latch for holding said detent in a position out of the path of said moving actuator at the first indication of filling failure, said moving actuator having a pathway at indication of filling failure such that it disengages said latch to permit the detent to move to a position in which it is contacted by the actuator at the second consecutive pick of a pair of picks indicated to be faulty, said detent when so released being effective to impart added motion from the actuator to the means engageable thereby to stop the loom.

7. In a loom having a knock-off control, fabric takeup advancing means including periodically actuated means off mechanism including a moving actuator having one path of movement when the filling thread is present as intended upon beat-up and a different pathway upon failure of normal filling insertion, a means out of the path of said actuator when moved in said one path but engageable thereby when the latter is moved in the different path at filling failure said means being connected to said take-up advancing means for affecting it and the knockoff control, a detent pivoted at the free end of said means engageable by said moving actuator, a latch for holding said detent in a position out of the path of said moving actuator at the first indication of filling failure, said moving actuator having a pathway at indication of filling failure such that it disengages said latch to permit the detent to move to a position in which it is contacted by the actuator at the second consecutive pick of a pair of picks indicated to be faulty, said detent when so released being effective to impart added motion from the actuator to the means engageable thereby to stop the loom, said detent further having a cam formed as a part thereof engageable by the moving actuator upon movement thereof in that pathway taken by said actuator at no indication of filling fault, for resetting the detent in latched position.

8. In a loom having a knock-off control, fabric take-up advancing means including periodically actuated means capable of being released for letting back fabric, a knock-off mechanism including a moving actuator having one path of movement when the filling thread is present as intended upon beat-up and a different pathway upon failure of normal filling insertion, a means out of the path of said actuator when moved in said one path but engageable thereby when the latter is moved in the different path at filling failure said means being connected to said take-up advancing means for affecting it and the knockoff control, a detent pivoted at the free end of said means engageable by said moving actuator, a spring urged plunger normally latching said detent in a position in which the actuator may not contact it, said plunger being aligned for engagement by said moving actuator upon indication of filling fault, and a cam forming a part of said detent and positioned to be engaged by the moving actuator when it moves in that pathway incident to an indication of no filling fault for moving the detent to a latched position.

9. In a loom having a knock-off control, fabric takeup advancing means including periodically actuated means capable of being released for letting back fabric, a knock-off mechanism including a moving actuator having one path of movement when the filling thread is present as intended upon beat-up and a different pathway upon failure of normal filling insertion, a means out of the path of said actuator when moved in said one path but engageable thereby when the latter is moved in the different path at filling failure said means being connected to said take-up advancing means for affecting it and the knock-off control, a detent pivoted at the free end of said means engageable by said moving actuator, a spring urged plunger normally latching said detent in a position in which the actuator may not contact it, said plunger being aligned for engagement by said moving actuator upon indication of filling fault, and a cam forming a part of said detent and positioned to be engaged by the moving actuator when it moves in that pathway incident to an indication of no filling fault for moving the detent to a latched position, said detent being reversible and hav-.

Perkins Apr. 10, 1906 Draper Nov. 4, 1919 

